BBIAB is the acronym for “be back in a bit”. It’s another way of saying “AFK,” which means “away from the keyboard.” BBIAB is a common slang expression among online chatters, especially for people doing real-time text chat or online gaming.
When to use BBIAB
This is a polite expression that users use to indicate that they are stepping away from their computers for a few minutes. In the context of a conversation, it’s a polite way of saying “I won’t reply for a few minutes.” In the context of an online game, it’s a way of saying “Please wait for me to come back before we fight our next monster.” BBIAB and its cousin AFK have become common internet acronyms as more people become regular chatters online.
Examples of BBIABs
- I have to rest for dinner. BBIAB.
- I’m going to watch the end of the game on TV. BBIAB.
- You’re late for my class! Bbiab.
BBIAB is not limited to live chats
Although the BBIAB is most often used in gaming chats, it can also appear in other places on the Internet, such as in Facebook messages, smartphone text messages, chat rooms, instant messages and any communication based on text in real time. You may see it on Twitter, but its use is generally limited to real-time messaging.
Digital culture has spread to everyday life. Some of the expressive terms of the Internet appear in everyday conversation. Perhaps the most frequently heard terms are LOL (laughing out loud) and OMG (oh my gosh). BBIAB hasn’t made that transition, probably because it’s harder to say the acronym than the full phrase.
